Sunday, July 15, 2012

how to use chia seeds

Chia seeds are indeed a superfood. They have
  • 2x the amount of protein of any grains
  • 3x the amount of antioxidants of blueberries
  • 5x more calcium than milk
  • 2x the amount of potassium in a banana
  • 3x the iron of spinach
  • Chia seeds are also loaded with Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids and have trace amounts of boron, which is an essential mineral to help transfer calcium to the bones.
For those that have asked ... found a few innovative ways (via various searches) on how to use chia seeds ... SUPEReasy to incorporate into your diet.
Below is a list of examples, if you come up with others let me know, I would love to hear of your unique ways and I can add them to the list ...

One of the most common ways to eat chia seeds is to soak them. They absorb large amounts of liquid very quickly, usually within five minutes. You can make basic chia gel by adding 1 part seeds to 9 parts water. Stir well so that there are no clumps and then leave it in a jar with a lid and eat a spoonful whenever you want.
Personally, I now keep a cupful of white, and a cupful of black soaked in the fridge all the time, they last up to two weeks but they are long disappeared by then anyway. I add them to mineral water for a super bubbly refreshing drink, for the past couple weeks I have been adding them into my omelettes - makes them SUPER fluffy (YUM!) and i always add a dessertspoon now into my juice every morning - gives it a great texture .
  • Mix 1 dessertspoon of chia seeds with a quarter cup of water to make an egg substitute for baking cakes and cookies.
  • Add chia seeds to apple juice to make “sago”.
  • Grind seeds and add to hot milk to make a “porridge”
  • Mix seeds through yogurt.
  • Add seeds to soup to thicken.
  • Grind seeds and mix with flour, milk and eggs to make pancakes.
  • Add seeds to salad dressings.
  • Eat Chia seeds whole and raw as a snack.
  • Add whole seeds to diluted fruit juice to make Chia Fresca.
  • Make Chia Pudding by adding whole seeds to milk, nut milk or soy milk.
  • Blend chia seeds into smoothies.
  • Make a “lassie” by blending chia seeds, yoghurt and fruit juice.
  • Add chia seeds to beaten eggs, soak for 10 minutes and make an omelette.
  • Mix with worcestershire or bbq sauce and brush over barbequed meats.
  • Add ground chia seeds to flour when making bread.
  • Make chia pan bread by combining chia seeds, eggs, milk, flour and baking powder. Cook in a heavy based pan with a lid on.
  • Add whole chia seeds to a cake batter to make a heavy poppy seed like cake.
  • Add seeds to stews to thicken.
  • Throw some seeds into a stir fry.
  • Make a thin batter of ground chia seeds and milk and cook in a slow oven to make crackers.
  • Sprinkle seeds over a salad.
  • Pureed fruit, chia seeds and a little fruit juice is a good topping for ice cream.
  • Stir whole seeds through cooked lentils.
  • Soak seeds in beaten eggs and use this mix to make a frittata.
  • Cook brown rice in vegetable stock and stir chia seeds through when rice is cooked.
  • Top a cheesecake with chia seeds soaked in fruit juice to make a gel topping.
  • Add whole or ground seeds to cookie mixes.
  • Mix ground seeds with ground beef to make meatballs.
  • Cook brown rice in apple juice, add grated apple and stir whole chia seeds through the mixture for a tasty dessert.
  • Toasted ground chia seeds mixed with honey and cinnamon makes a wonderful base for cheesecake.
  • Add whole seeds to granola.
  • Mix white chia seeds that have been soaked in milk through mashed potatoes.
  • Sprout the seeds and use in salads.
  • Mix ground seeds with butter or peanut butter for a nutritious spread.
  • Cinnamon, ground chia and butter is great on hot scones.
  • Add a desert spoon of black seeds to a green jelly mix for “frogs egg jelly”.
  • Spread a mixture of honey, cinnamon, dried fruit and ground chia on to filo or puff pastry sheets, roll up and cook in a hot oven.
  • Mix the seeds, whole or ground through Nutella.
  • Add ground seeds soaked in an egg to bind a hamburger mix.
  • Soak chia seeds in milk and mix through hot oatmeal.
  • Add half black and half white chia seeds to custard to make “polka dot custard” – great for kids
  • Make a pasta sauce by blending chia seeds, cooked cauliflower and vegetable stock
  • Don’t waste left over liquid from a stew. Add chia seeds, allow to thicken, then heat and serve with toast
  • Add ground or whole chia seeds to your favorite stuffing mixture
  • Whisk a dessertspoon of chia seeds into coconut water. This is especially good on a hot day for keeping hydrated and an excellent idea for athletes. It’s so effective and healthy I feel it will soon be marketed as a sports drink.
  • Want a crunchy breakfast? Add half to one tablespoon of chia seeds to crunchy toasted muesli. Add milk, fruit juice, soy or nut milk and eat immediately. The chia seeds will retain their crunch.

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